Stage 1 Bedsores

What Is a Stage 1 Bedsore?

Bedsores are blisters that form on patches of skin covering bony parts of the body, like the back of the head, knees, shoulder blades, hips, tailbone, heels, and ankles.

Bedsores are categorized into four stages, with a stage 1 bedsore being the earliest and least severe. In this stage, the affected area of skin may be discolored but an open wound has not yet formed.

Pressure ulcers of all stages usually happen from lying in bed or sitting in a chair for a long period of time. Nursing home residents who are bedbound or have problems moving themselves are at a higher risk of developing pressure ulcers.

Unfortunately, a stage 1 pressure ulcer could be tied to nursing home abuse or neglect. Nursing home staff members should be properly trained to prevent and treat pressure ulcers. When this doesn’t happen, a stage 1 bedsore can quickly worsen into a more severe health problem.

Who Is at Risk for a Stage 1 Pressure Ulcer?

A stage 1 pressure ulcer is likely to form in people who are bedridden, unconscious, or unable to detect pain. This includes people who must use a wheelchair, wear a cast for a long period of time, or suffer from conditions like late-stage dementia.

Since bedsores are most often caused by sitting or lying for a prolonged period of time, nursing home residents are especially at risk for developing stage 1 bedsores. This is because the elderly population is more likely to have trouble moving around and changing positions on their own while sitting or lying in bed.

Additional risk factors for a stage 1 bedsore include:

• Dehydration
• Health conditions that affect blood flow, like diabetes
• Malnutrition
• Spinal cord injury or neurological disorders that cause loss of sensation

While a stage 1 pressure ulcer is highly treatable, it can be a red flag directly related to the overall care a resident is receiving. Sadly, a stage 1 bedsore could be one of the first signs of nursing home abuse or neglect.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse, you may be able to take legal action to pursue compensation for your health care costs, pain and suffering, and more. Get a free case review right now to see if you qualify.

Causes of a Stage 1 Pressure Sore

Pressure sores are caused by pressure against the skin that restricts blood flow.

Factors that can contribute to a pressure sore stage 1 are:

• Friction: When skin rubs against clothing or bedding, it can become fragile and more prone to injury. Moist skin is especially vulnerable.
• Lack of blood flow: Constant pressure on the skin can prevent oxygen and other nutrients from reaching tissue, resulting in a sore.
• Shear: This happens when the bones or muscle beneath the skin move but the skin itself stays in place or moves in the opposite direction. It could occur when a bed is raised, causing the resident to slide down while the skin over their bones stays in place.

The one underlying factor that causes a stage 1 pressure sore is any medical condition that limits a person’s ability to change positions on their own. Medical conditions that limit movement are often why older adults move into nursing homes in the first place.

If staff members are unable or unwilling to provide proper care to immobile residents, they could develop bedsores as a result, which may be considered nursing home neglect.

Symptoms of Stage 1 Bedsores

If a stage 1 bedsore has developed, the skin in that area will look red and feel warmer or cooler than unaffected skin. If pressure is applied, a stage 1 bedsore will stay red, whereas healthy skin will turn white.

Skin affected by a stage 1 pressure ulcer may also be harder than the surrounding skin, have a bluish tint, or cause pain, burning, or itching.

It is also very important to know where pressure sores are likely to show up, as their location on the body can vary based on the extent of limited mobility. Find out more in the chart below.

Common Areas for Stage 1 Bedsores

Prevention of Pressure Ulcers Stage 1

Almost all stage 1 pressure ulcers are preventable, as nursing home staff members are trained to provide care to stop them from ever occurring.

“It is estimated that 95% of all pressure ulcers are preventable. Prevention rather than mere treatment of established ulcers remains a top priority in the effort to reduce the incidence of this common, complex, and difficult problem.”
– National Institutes for Health (NIH)

Proactive staff members can prevent a stage 1 bedsore from developing by carefully monitoring the skin for redness, especially on bony areas. It is also critical to ensure there are no issues with poor hygiene or malnutrition.

Other ways to prevent a stage 1 pressure sore from developing include:

• Ensuring those in wheelchairs stay upright and change position frequently
• Keeping the skin clean and dry to maintain proper incontinence care
• Knowing the signs of infection, tissue damage, tissue injury, and dead tissue
• Making sure all caregivers are familiar with the stages of bedsores
• Putting soft cushioning in wheelchairs and beds
• Repositioning a person who can’t easily move themselves every 2 hours

Weight management is also important in preventing a stage 1 bedsore. For people who are severely obese, losing weight can lessen pressure that can cause bedsores. If a person is underweight, they are more likely to need additional padding around bony areas.

Even small amounts of movement can increase blood flow. It may be possible to safely incorporate low-impact stretching into your loved one’s care plan.

Despite training and other protocols, bedsores remain a big problem in nursing homes and can signal that a loved one isn’t getting proper care.

Stage 1 Bedsore Treatment

Although stage 1 bedsores are the mildest stage, they can still be painful. Additionally, they are likely to get worse, potentially progressing to a stage 3 bedsore and ultimately a stage 4 bedsore, if they are ignored and left untreated.

Stage 1 bedsores treatment includes:

• Drinking more fluids
• Inspecting the affected area at least twice per day
• Keeping the area clean and dry
• Removing all pressure
• Staying off the affected area

A stage 1 pressure sore can usually be reversed in about three days, preventing a stage 2 bedsore from developing, if the proper precautions are taken to remove the pressure that caused it.

However, the danger with a stage 1 bedsore, especially in the elderly population, is that they can worsen in a matter of days or even hours. Tragically, some severe bedsores never heal and can even lead to nursing home wrongful death.

Complications of a Pressure Ulcer Stage 1

Once a stage 1 pressure sore develops, it can quickly advance into a more severe stage and lead to other nursing home injuries.

If a stage 1 bedsore gets infected, fever is likely to occur as the infection travels through the body. The infection can spread to the blood, heart, and bones, turning a once mild bedsore into a life-threatening condition.

Additional bedsore complications include:

• Amputations
• Autonomic dysreflexia (dangerously high blood pressure)
• Prolonged bed rest

Since people with bedsores are less active while they are healing, they may also develop a higher risk for respiratory problems and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Get Help for Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect

A stage 1 bedsore is easily prevented and treated, but they are often not detected well enough in advance to stop them from worsening. Bedsores should never be taken lightly, as they are often an indicator of ongoing nursing home abuse or neglect.

Filing a nursing home abuse legal claim may help you secure the compensation you need to get the best care for your loved one. It can also prevent other vulnerable nursing home residents from being harmed.

The nursing home abuse attorneys in the LawFirm.com network have recovered over $267 million for victims across the country.

Our legal partners can help families in all 50 states, and they never charge any upfront fees.

Take the first step toward justice by calling our team at (888) 726-9160 right now or filling out our contact form.